Hillcrest Heights weather in December

In December, Hillcrest Heights sees average daytime highs of 48°F and overnight lows near 34°F, with 3.4 in of precipitation across 8.8 wet days and about 9.3 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 51°F in the first days to 46°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 30 min at the start of December to 9 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Hillcrest Heights's 5th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Hillcrest Heights's year-round climate.

Daytime high
48°
10th warmest
Overnight low
34°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
3.4 in
8.8 wet days
Daylight
9 h 18 min
7:25 AM – 4:43 PM
Cloud cover
58%
5th clearest
Wind
7 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
1.98 kWh/m²
Travel score
1.7
out of 10

Hillcrest Heights is census designated place in Maryland, United States.

Density
2,553/km²
people per km²

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 51°F in the first days to 46°F by the end.

A typical December day in Hillcrest Heights reaches about 48°F in the afternoon and slips back to 34°F overnight — a 14°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 35°F and 60°F. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 9°F cooler than November and about 4°F warmer than January.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15237
25136
35136
45136
55036
65035
74935
84935
94935
104834
114834
124834
134734
144734
154733
164733
174733
184733
194733
204633
214633
224632
234632
244632
254632
264632
274632
284632
294632
304632
314532

How December really feels in Hillcrest Heights

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 31 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
31
wind chill below the day's low

The story in December is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Hillcrest Heights weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 10th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan44° / 29°3.08.62.79.60.7
Feb47° / 31°2.88.22.410.51.5
Mar55° / 38°3.910.31.611.73.6
Apr66° / 48°3.39.90.1136.0
May75° / 57°3.611.1014.16.6
Jun84° / 67°3.510.8014.75.5
Jul88° / 71°3.811.9014.44.3
Aug86° / 70°3.59.7013.55.1
Sep79° / 62°4.29.2012.36.8
Oct68° / 51°3.47.80116.7
Nov57° / 40°2.97.30.29.94.3
Dec48° / 34°3.48.81.39.31.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 51%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15149
25149
35050
45050
54852
64852
74951
84852
94753
104753
114753
124753
134753
144753
154852
164852
174852
184951
194951
205050
214951
225050
235050
245050
255149
265149
275149
285149
295149
305149
315149

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitationSnow

Hillcrest Heights gets around 3.4 in of rain and snow over 8.8 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 29% and peaks near 31% on the wettest days, and about 1 day brings snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1293
2303
3303
4304
5304
6304
7304
8304
9315
10315
11305
12305
13305
14304
15304
16304
17294
18294
19294
20284
21284
22274
23274
24274
25264
26264
27264
28264
29265
30265
31275

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 98% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
19640
29730
39730
49730
59730
69820
79820
89820
99820
109820
119820
129910
139910
149910
159910
169910
179910
189910
199811
209811
219811
229811
239811
249811
259811
269811
279811
289811
299811
309811
319811

Wind in December

Winds average 7 mph in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 7 mph on the calmest days to 7 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
17calm
27calm
37calm
47calm
57calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 30 min at the start of December to 9 h 18 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:13 AM to 7:32 AM, and sunset from 4:42 PM to 4:50 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.57:134:42
29.57:144:42
39.47:154:42
49.47:164:42
59.47:174:41
69.47:184:41
79.47:194:41
89.47:194:41
99.47:204:42
109.37:214:42
119.37:224:42
129.37:224:42
139.37:234:42
149.37:244:42
159.37:254:43
169.37:254:43
179.37:264:43
189.37:264:43
199.37:274:44
209.37:284:44
219.37:284:45
229.37:294:45
239.37:294:46
249.37:294:46
259.37:304:47
269.37:304:47
279.37:314:48
289.37:314:48
299.37:314:49
309.37:314:50
319.37:324:50

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.98 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.98 kWh/m² to a high of 6.16 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 1.98 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.1Moderate
22.1Moderate
32.1Moderate
42.1Moderate
52.0Moderate
62.0Moderate
72.0Moderate
82.0Dim
92.0Dim
102.0Dim
111.9Dim
121.9Dim
131.9Dim
141.9Dim
151.9Dim
161.9Dim
171.9Dim
181.9Dim
191.9Dim
201.9Dim
211.9Dim
222.0Dim
232.0Dim
242.0Dim
252.0Dim
262.0Dim
272.0Moderate
282.0Moderate
292.0Moderate
302.0Moderate
312.0Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Hillcrest Heights

In seasonPeak

None of Hillcrest Heights's seasonal hazards are active in December. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Hillcrest Heights sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Atlantic hurricane
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Hillcrest Heights?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

1.7
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Hillcrest Heights.

What to pack for Hillcrest Heights in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Hillcrest Heights sees daytime highs around 48°F and nights near 34°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near Hillcrest Heights in December

The nearest coast averages about 45°F in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 32 mi away) is warmest in August at about 78°F and coldest in February near 37°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 16 to Oct 6 — about 3.7 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan38Bracing
Feb37Bracing
Mar40Bracing
Apr47Bracing
May58Bracing
Jun68Refreshing
Jul76Warm
Aug78Warm
Sep74Refreshing
Oct65Cool
Nov54Bracing
Dec45Bracing

UV index in Hillcrest Heights in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Hillcrest Heights peaks around July 11 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 11UV 9Dec 19UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug7High
Sep6High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Hillcrest Heights in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Hillcrest Heights is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.9× the cleanest month (November, 9 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1317 µg/m³Nov 129 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan11Good
Feb12Moderate
Mar13Moderate
Apr13Moderate
May15Moderate
Jun16Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep12Moderate
Oct9Good
Nov9Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Hillcrest Heights?

Hillcrest Heights sits at 38.8°N, 77.0°W, 276 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Suitland-Silver Hill, 1.9 mi away.

Topography around Hillcrest Heights

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Hillcrest Heights.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Hillcrest Heights has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 295 ft around an average of 236 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 446 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,539 ft.

The land around Hillcrest Heights is covered by trees (56%) and artificial surfaces (34%) within 2 miles, trees (57%) and artificial surfaces (27%) within 10 miles, and trees (58%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
295 ft
10 miles
446 ft
50 miles
1,539 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: Suitland-Silver Hill 1.9 mi · Suitland 2.5 mi · Glassmanor 2.5 mi · Oxon Hill 2.5 mi · Oxon Hill-Glassmanor 2.5 mi · Camp Springs 3.7 mi · Capitol Riverfront 3.7 mi · Capitol Hill 4.3 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Hillcrest Heights (38.8329°, -76.9594°, elevation 276 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).